Fire Departments across the state to receive naloxone training

New York fire departments throughout the state will receive training on how to administer a heroin antidote.

A kit of naloxone, a heroin antidote that can reverse the effects of an opioid and is administered nasally.

Getty

Photo:

In an effort to combat the heroin and prescription opioid epidemic many New York communities face, fire departments across New York state will receive training on how to administer a heroin overdose antidote, the AP reports.

Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the effects of heroin and other opioids. The training is funded by the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and administered by the Department of Health.

The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency services will partner with two other New York agencies to provide the training to fire departments throughout the state. It will be available free of charge to fire departments participating in the state-sponsored training.

Fire Departments aren’t the first time New York has offered training sessions on opioid overdose. In August 2014, 12 New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and Addiction Treatment Centers (ATCs) in communities across the state offered training sessions on opioid overdose prevention and participants received a free naloxone rescue kit upon completion.